Fake military uniforms in Kinshasa: 5 Indians under arrest, a warehouse closed

Kinshasa, June 2^nd, 2025 (CPA).-A military prosecutor’s office in Kinshasa has arrested five Indian traders and closed their warehouse in Limete, in the centre of the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, after a new discovery of large stocks of ‘fake military clothing’, we have learned  on Saturday from  an official source.  In Kinshasa in particular, and in the DRC in general, these fake military uniforms are known as ‘Zonkion’, named after the Congolese star Papa Wemba, who died in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. These fake military uniforms have also been made popular by the musical group Wenge Musica, under the name of ‘Pentagone’. The first discovery had taken place at the same warehouse on 8^th Street in the municipality of Limete and involved 20 bales of fake military clothing, seized by the judicial police, according to a report consulted by the CPA. The second discovery has taken place on Friday with ‘85’ bales in the same warehouse on 8^th Street in the municipality of Limete.  In a video shared on the social media, the burgomaster of Limete has gone to visit the site, stating that large quantities of military clothing had been found in the warehouse.  In the internal report from the Kinshasa City Hall, led by Governor Daniel Bumba, the seized clothing are identified as counterfeit military clothing known as ‘Zonkion’ and ‘Pentagone,’ have no connection to military uniforms, despite their resemblance, . These searches have been carried out by the Kinshasa-Matete garrison military prosecutor’s office, which has issued a warrant in good and due form.  The warehouse in question has been closed by the military prosecutor’s office, while 31 bales are consigned to the Limete Communal House. For security reasons imposed by the war in the East, the authorities have banned the wearing of these fake military garments in DRC, with a view to ‘prevent infiltrations’. ACP/